Dennis Onkotz, Jack Ham, Greg Buttle, Shane Conlan, Andre Collins, Lavar Arrington, and now you can add the name of Paul Posluszny to the list of great All-American linebackers at Penn State. Many, including Hall of Fame broadcaster Jack Ham, say that Poz is the best linebacker ever to don the Blue and White, but you will never hear those words come out of Poz's mouth.
I remember Paul's freshman season. Penn State was on the verge of another losing season when he started to receive more and more time. At that time he wore the #39 but you could tell that this guy was going to be something special as he had the heart of a champion. His first taste of glory came in the last home game of the year against Indiana where he intercepted a pass for a touchdown. He finished his freshman year with 36 tackles.
His sophomore season he made a switch, to a different number. Poz was persuaded to wear the #31, the same number as former All-Americans Shane Conlan and Andre Collins. He has another great year as he had 104 tackles but he was not satisfied as the team had its second losing season in as many years.
It was evident from the start that Poz was a leader, not just vocally, but with this work ethic. He was always the first one on the practice field and the last one off. Never satisfied with the job he did because he was striving for perfection. Joe Paterno named Poz the co-captain for the 2005 team. This was the first time a junior got this honor at Penn State since 1968.
We all know the story of last year's team; they went 11-1 with an Orange Bowl victory. Poz won the Butkus and Bednarik awards for best linebacker and defensive player of the year respectively. But in that Orange Bowl game he partially tore two ligaments in his knee. In true Poz fashion he did not blame anyone but himself for the injury. He said when he saw FSU's running back, Booker come to cut block him he tried to jump over him and he did not follow the coaching of his Defensive Coaches to not use that tactic.
The beginning part of 2006 was rough for both Poz and the Nittany Lions. Many thought he lost a step due to the injury. Many did not realize that he was not just fighting the injured knee; he was also learning a new position on defense. He was now a middle linebacker while the other three years he played outside linebacker. As the season progressed so did Poz. His hard work has put him back as a finalist for the Butkus award.
I am not sure if it was his knee healing, being comfortable with his position, or a combination of both but it all clicked during the 5th game of the season and Poz was back to his old self. Against Wisconsin he broke the All Time Tackles record at Penn State previously held by Greg Buttle, but Poz didn't want to hear about that because they lost the game. He also became the first linebacker in Penn State history to have over 100 tackles in season 3 times.
In an era where college athletes are becoming more selfish, Paul Posluszny is the total opposite. If you listen to him interview you will hear him give more credit to his teammates than himself. Even after winning Big Ten Defensive POW, reporters asked Posluszny about his honors and both times, in answering, he first mentioned defensive tackles Scott Paxson and Jay Alford, trying his best to persuade listeners that he would be nothing without the free space they provide him. The guy is everything that is great about college and Penn State football and I am going to be sad to see him go Saturday.
This Saturday at Beaver Stadium, Paul will run out of the tunnel for the last time wearing the Blue and White jersey. I have attended quite a few Senior Days' in Happy Valley but I can assure you that the cheers that Paul gets on Saturday will be louder than any other. The roar will echo through the Valley between Mt. Nittany and Tussey Mountain. There is one other thing I can be pretty certain of too; while running out of the tunnel I can bet that this hulking of a man will tear up and I am sure he won't be the only grown man in the stadium choking up. It seems like just yesterday that #39 appeared on the field as a freshman, time sure flies. Thank you Mr. Posluszny, it was an honor and a pleasure to watch you all of these years.
Dennis Onkotz, Jack Ham, Greg Buttle, Shane Conlan, Andre Collins, Lavar Arrington, and now you can add the name of Paul Posluszny to the list of great All-American linebackers at Penn State. Many, including Hall of Fame broadcaster Jack Ham, say that Poz is the best linebacker ever to don the Blue and White, but you will never hear those words come out of Poz's mouth.
I remember Paul's freshman season. Penn State was on the verge of another losing season when he started to receive more and more time. At that time he wore the #39 but you could tell that this guy was going to be something special as he had the heart of a champion. His first taste of glory came in the last home game of the year against Indiana where he intercepted a pass for a touchdown. He finished his freshman year with 36 tackles.
His sophomore season he made a switch, to a different number. Poz was persuaded to wear the #31, the same number as former All-Americans Shane Conlan and Andre Collins. He has another great year as he had 104 tackles but he was not satisfied as the team had its second losing season in as many years.
It was evident from the start that Poz was a leader, not just vocally, but with this work ethic. He was always the first one on the practice field and the last one off. Never satisfied with the job he did because he was striving for perfection. Joe Paterno named Poz the co-captain for the 2005 team. This was the first time a junior got this honor at Penn State since 1968.
We all know the story of last year's team; they went 11-1 with an Orange Bowl victory. Poz won the Butkus and Bednarik awards for best linebacker and defensive player of the year respectively. But in that Orange Bowl game he partially tore two ligaments in his knee. In true Poz fashion he did not blame anyone but himself for the injury. He said when he saw FSU's running back, Booker come to cut block him he tried to jump over him and he did not follow the coaching of his Defensive Coaches to not use that tactic.
The beginning part of 2006 was rough for both Poz and the Nittany Lions. Many thought he lost a step due to the injury. Many did not realize that he was not just fighting the injured knee; he was also learning a new position on defense. He was now a middle linebacker while the other three years he played outside linebacker. As the season progressed so did Poz. His hard work has put him back as a finalist for the Butkus award.
I am not sure if it was his knee healing, being comfortable with his position, or a combination of both but it all clicked during the 5th game of the season and Poz was back to his old self. Against Wisconsin he broke the All Time Tackles record at Penn State previously held by Greg Buttle, but Poz didn't want to hear about that because they lost the game. He also became the first linebacker in Penn State history to have over 100 tackles in season 3 times.
In an era where college athletes are becoming more selfish, Paul Posluszny is the total opposite. If you listen to him interview you will hear him give more credit to his teammates than himself. Even after winning Big Ten Defensive POW, reporters asked Posluszny about his honors and both times, in answering, he first mentioned defensive tackles Scott Paxson and Jay Alford, trying his best to persuade listeners that he would be nothing without the free space they provide him. The guy is everything that is great about college and Penn State football and I am going to be sad to see him go Saturday.
This Saturday at Beaver Stadium, Paul will run out of the tunnel for the last time wearing the Blue and White jersey. I have attended quite a few Senior Days' in Happy Valley but I can assure you that the cheers that Paul gets on Saturday will be louder than any other. The roar will echo through the Valley between Mt. Nittany and Tussey Mountain. There is one other thing I can be pretty certain of too; while running out of the tunnel I can bet that this hulking of a man will tear up and I am sure he won't be the only grown man in the stadium choking up. It seems like just yesterday that #39 appeared on the field as a freshman, time sure flies. Thank you Mr. Posluszny, it was an honor and a pleasure to watch you all of these years.
